The IMF on Low Income Country Bounce Backs

Low-income countries have bounced back in the past two decades. Analysis in the International Monetary Fund’s latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) suggests that dynamic low-income countries are on a stronger economic footing today than before the 1990s, and therefore better

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President Kirchner: Another Peron?

President Kirchner, who has been in office since December 2007, was re-elected in 2011 and may have her sights on a third term – which would require an amendment to the constitution.  She was the first elected female president of

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IDB Approves US$ 617 Million in Development Funding

The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) recently approved US$ 617 million towards funding development projects including  important projects in the areas of education (US$ 174 million for Indonesia), electricity (US$ 319.6 million for Iran, Uganda and Bangladesh), agriculture (US$ 80 million

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Gillard Under Pressure: Unfairly So?

Julia Gillard was born in Barry, South Wales in 1961 but renounced her UK citizenship on entering the Australian parliament in 1988. Her family had moved to Australia when Julia was five years old. She was the first PM since

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Countdown to the 2013 Global Diaspora Forum

Following the unparalleled momentum and success of the 2011 and 2012 conferences, the third annual Global Diaspora Forum (GDF) is truly going global this year with simultaneously streamed events from around across the world. Join leaders in business, technology, investment and

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Britain Mourns Lady Thatcher: Greatest Post-War Premier

Margaret Thatcher – the ‘Iron Lady’ who governed Britain from 1979 to 1990 – died peacefully today at the age of 87 years after suffering a stroke. Baroness Thatcher was Britain’s first female prime minister and transformed the country’s economy

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GCC: A Reliable Partner in Energy Supply

Saudi Oil minister Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Naimi believes that future demand for oil will remain strong, despite the difficult global economic situation. Speaking at the opening session of the Doha Energy Forum on April 1st he said, “The expectations of

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Costa Rica’s Chinchilla: A Social Conservative

One of two VPs in the previous administration, Laura Chinchilla was the first female president of Costa Rica when she assumed that office in May 2010.  Since coming to power she has had to deal with the Nicaraguan border crisis

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China: The Big Spenders

Thanks to rapid urbanization and rising disposable incomes in their country, Chinese tourists spent $102 billion during their travels in 2012, more than any other nationality, making the Asian nation the world’s number one tourism source market, the United Nations

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Minister Okonjo-Weala: Right Place at the Right Time

When Dr. Okonjo-Iweala departed the World Bank in 2011 to become Nigeria’s finance minister, she was managing director and second in charge. It was no surprise that in the following year her name appeared on a short-list for the WB

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